EXHIBIT (8)(G)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
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Among
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS,
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OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
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and
AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
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THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the 1st
day of December, 1999 by and among American General Life Insurance Company
(hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate
account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as may be amended
from time to time by mutual consent (hereinafter collectively the "Accounts"),
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (hereinafter the "Fund") and
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (hereinafter the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is
available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts now in
existence or to be established at any date hereafter for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable Insurance
Products") offered by insurance companies (hereinafter "Participating Insurance
Companies");
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio", and each representing the
interests in a particular managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated July 16, 1986 (File No. 812-6324) granting
Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life
insurance separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections 9(a),
13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
(hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)
thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to
and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both
affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order")
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under
the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (hereinafter
"Contracts") (unless an exemption from registration is available);
WHEREAS, the Accounts are or will be duly organized, validly existing
segregated asset accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid
variable contracts (the Contract(s) and the Account(s) covered by the Agreement
are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto, as may be modified by mutual
consent from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as
unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from registration
is available);
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios (the
Portfolios covered by this Agreement are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto
as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time), on behalf of the
Accounts to fund the Contracts named in Schedule 3, as may be amended from time
to time by mutual consent, and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to
unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund,
the Adviser and the Company agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund
which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such orders on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or
its designee in proper form of the order for the shares of the Fund. For
purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or
facsimile) notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. New York time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC. "Proper form" means that amounts
to be invested or redeemed are identified on the Company's computer system by
Participant, Contract and Fund in accordance with the Company's standard
procedures for processing transactions. The Company agrees to provide the Fund
and the Adviser with at least ten Business Days' notice of any change in the
Company's standard procedures for processing transactions.
1.2. If the Company requests the purchase of Fund shares, the Company
shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal Funds to the Fund or its
designated account or as otherwise instructed by the Fund's treasurer, on the
day the order is transmitted by the Company. If the Company requests a net
redemption resulting in a payment of redemption proceeds to the Company, the
Fund shall wire the redemption proceeds to the Company on the day the order is
transmitted by the Company, unless doing so would require the Fund to dispose of
portfolio securities or otherwise incur additional costs, but in such event,
proceeds shall be wired to the Company within three business days and the Fund
shall notify the person designated in writing by the Company as the recipient
for such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time the same Business Day
that the Company transmits the redemption order to the Fund. If the Company's
order requests the application of redemption proceeds from the redemption of
shares of one Portfolio to the purchase of shares of another Portfolio, the Fund
shall so apply such proceeds the same Business Day that the Company transmits
such order to the Fund.
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1.3. The Fund shall make the Portfolio's net asset value per share
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after
the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its best efforts to
make such net asset value available by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. If the Fund
provides the Company with the incorrect share net asset value information
through no fault of the Company, the Company on behalf of the Separate Accounts,
shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed
to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any error in the calculation of
net asset value, dividend and capital gain information greater than or equal to
$.01 per share of that Portfolio, shall be reported immediately upon discovery
to The Company. Any error of a lesser amount shall be corrected in net asset
value per share of that Portfolio or the next Business Day after discovery by
the Fund.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, upon the Company's request,
any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption in proper form. For
purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute
receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or facsimile)
notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the next
following Business Day. Payment shall be made within the time period specified
in the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, in federal
funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account as designated by the Company
in writing from time to time.
1.5. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Portfolios named in Schedule 3 in accordance with the provisions of the then
current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund. The
Company shall not permit any person other than a Contract owner to give
instructions to the Company which would require the Company to redeem or
exchange shares of the Fund.
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1.6 Issuance and transfer of Fund Shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company. Shares ordered from the
Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for the Company, on behalf of its
Account.
1.7 The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire, telecopier, or
telephone, and if by telephone, followed by confirmation in writing or by
telecopier) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to
receive all such income, dividends and capital gain distributions of the Fund in
the form of additional shares of that the Fund. The Company reserves the right
to revoke this election and to receive all such income, dividends and capital
gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of
shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
ARTICLE II. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports
2.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund or the Adviser is named, at least ten Business Days
prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee
reasonably object in writing or by telecopier to such use within ten Business
Days after receipt of such material. "Business Day" shall mean any day in which
the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and in which the Fund calculates
its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
2.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sale literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its
designee, except with the permission of the Fund.
2.3. For purposes of this Article II, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" means advertisements (such as material published, or
designed for use in, a newspaper,
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magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording,
videotape display, signs or billboard or electronic media), and sales literature
(such as brochures, circulars, market letters and form letters), distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public.
2.4. The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus within a
reasonable period of its filing date, and provide other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently
if the prospectus for the Fund is supplemented or amended) to have the
prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one
document (such printing to be at the Company's expense). The Adviser shall be
permitted to review and approve the typeset form of the Fund's Prospectus prior
to such printing.
2.5. The Fund or the Adviser shall provide the Company with either:
(i) a copy of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders, other
information relating to the Fund necessary to prepare financial reports, and
other communications to shareholders for printing and distribution to Contract
owners at the Company's expense, or (ii) camera ready and/or printed copies, if
appropriate, of such material for distribution to Contract owners at the
Company' expense, within a reasonable period of the filing date for definitive
copies of such material. The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve
the typeset form of such proxy material and shareholder reports prior to such
printing provided such materials have been provided within a reasonable period.
ARTICLE III. Fees and Expenses
3.1. The Fund and Adviser shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Company under this agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Fund or Adviser, except as provided herein.
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3.2. All expenses incident to performance by each party of its
respective duties under this Agreement shall be paid by that party. The Fund
shall see to it that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance
in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent advisable by
the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund
shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the
Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, and the preparation of all statements
and notices required by any federal or state law.
3.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of typesetting, printing and
distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of
Contracts issued by the Company.
3.4. In the event the Fund adds one or more additional Portfolios and
the parties desire to make such Portfolios available to the respective Contract
owners as an underlying investment medium, a new Schedule 3 or an amendment to
this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing the issuance of
shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Account. The amendment may also
provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of new Portfolios
among Participating Insurance Companies desiring to invest in such Portfolios
and the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new Portfolios.
ARTICLE IV. Potential Conflicts
4.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") will monitor the
Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the
interests of the Contract owners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund.
An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision
by an insurer to
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disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners. The Board shall promptly
inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict
exists and the implications thereof.
4.2. The Company has reviewed a copy of the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the requested
relief set forth therein. The Company agrees to be bound by the responsibilities
of a participating insurance companies as set forth in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order, including without limitation the requirement that the
Company report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the
Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities
in monitoring such conflicts under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
by providing the Board in a timely manner with all information reasonably
necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is
not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever
Contract owner voting instructions are disregarded and by confirming in writing,
at the Fund's request, that the Company are unaware of any such potential or
existing material irreconcilable conflicts.
4.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company shall, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are
necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and
including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate
accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a
different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of
the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be
implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate,
segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners,
life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more
Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or
offering to the affected Contract owners the option of making such a change; and
(2) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed
separate account.
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4.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that
such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must
take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this
provision is being implemented, and until the end of the six month period the
Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund.
4.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
within six months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has
determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict;
provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined
by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the
foregoing six month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund,
subject to applicable regulatory limitation.
4.6. For purposes of Sections 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 4.3 to establish a new
funding medium for Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a
majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable
material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed
action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the
Company will withdraw the particular Account's investment in the Fund and
terminate this
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Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing
of the foregoing determination, provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board.
ARTICLE V. Applicable Law
5.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
5.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be
interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE VI. Termination
6.1 This Agreement shall terminate with respect to some or all
Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon three month's advance
written notice to the other parties, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the
parties;
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of its
Contracts or are not appropriate funding vehicles for the Contracts, as
determined by the Company reasonably and in good faith. Prompt notice of the
election to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall be
furnished by the Company and termination shall be effective ten days after the
Fund's receipt of said notice unless the Fund makes available a sufficient
number of shares to meet the requirements of the Contracts within said ten-day
period; or
(c) as provided in Article IV.
6.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1(a) may be exercised for
cause or for no cause.
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ARTICLE VII. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify to the
other party.
If to the Fund:
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
c/o OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
6803 S. Tucson Way
Englewood, CO 80112
Attn: Brian W. Wixted, Treasurer
If to the Adviser:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
2 World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048-0203
Attn: Andrew J. Donohue, General Counsel
If to the Company:
American General Life Insurance Company
2929 Allen Parkway
Houston, TX 77019
Attn: General Counsel
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each
director of the Board and officers (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for
purposes of this Section 8.1) and any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
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damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements
are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's share or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus for the Contracts or contained in the
Contracts or advertisements or sales literature for the Contracts
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided
that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Fund for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or advertisements or sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied
by the Company, or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of
the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a Registration Statement, prospectus,
advertisements or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
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(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Company, as limited by and in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to
the Fund, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after
such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not
relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's election
to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
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8.1(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of the
Fund.
8.2 Indemnification by the Adviser
8.2(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
the principal underwriter for the Contracts and each of their respective
directors and officers and the principal underwriter for the Contracts and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become
subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the
Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus or advertisements or sales literature of the
Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided
that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Adviser or Fund by or on behalf of
the Company for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for
the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature for
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the Contracts not supplied by the Adviser or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund, Adviser or Adviser or
persons under their control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a Registration Statement, prospectus,
advertisements or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services
and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the diversification requirements specified
in Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and
Treasury Regulation 1.817-5 and any amendments or other
modifications to such Section or Regulation, or to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation or warranty made by the Fund or the Adviser in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser; as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason or such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
each Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
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8.2(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after
such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not
relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After
notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser's election to assume the
defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser will not be liable to such
party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of each Account.
8.3 Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
principal underwriter for Contracts and each of their respective directors and
officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes
of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or
litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties
may become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof)
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or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
of the Board or any member thereof, are related to the operations of the Fund
and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services
and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the diversification requirements specified
in Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5 and
any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulation,
or to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M
of the Code); or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representations or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and 83(c)
hereof.
8.3(b) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against on Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the
Company, the Fund, the Adviser or each Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after
such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund or any such claim shall not
relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at its
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own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.
After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to assume the
defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be liable to such party
under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement
of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its respective officers or
directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Miscellaneous
9.1. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as it may come into the public domain.
9.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
9.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
9.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
9.5. Each party hereto shall cooperate with, and promptly notify each
other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without
limitation the Securities and Exchange
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Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state
insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its
books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
9.6. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
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9.7. It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is not an
exclusive arrangement in any respect.
9.8. The Company and the Adviser each understand and agree that the
obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any
shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund's
property; the Company and the Adviser each represent that it has notice of the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
9.9. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without
the prior written consent of all the parties.
9.10. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the
parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings,
oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
and its seal to be hereunder affixed as of the date specified below.
AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
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OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
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SCHEDULE 1
. American General Life Insurance Company
Separate Account VL-R
. American General Life Insurance Company
Separate Account D
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SCHEDULE 2
Portfolios of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds:
Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA
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SCHEDULE 3
Legacy Plus Variable Life Insurance Policy
Policy Form No. 98615
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